Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-01-19
A HORRIBLE SCANDAL.
TERRIBLE ACCUSATIONS MADE AGAINST A
HANDSOME WIDOW
And Her Married COaChman-She is Accused Of
Poisoning Her Husband and BE of Poison
Ing His Young Wife That They
Might Marry

DELHI, January 1S.-The Hoops wife
poison case, which gave rise TO q sensa-
tOnal trial at the December term of the
County Court and which terminated in
verdict of acquittal of the accused hus-
band, now has n sequel in the opening of
coroncr's inquest under circumstances
involving strong suspicious that lately
deceased conspicuous citizen of this
county was toully done to death
by poison. The investigation is be-
ing conducted by Coroner J. II. Barker
and jury summoned by him. The first
step was the exhumation of the remains of
John w. Griffin, former large property
owner and respected citizen of Hobort, who
died, as was then supposed, Of natural
causes, on December 23 1856, and the re-
moval of the stomach and portions of the
intestines. These were placed in a glass
jar under seal, and on Saturday were sent
to expert chemist at Albany for analysis.
The surviving widow is
A HANDSOME AND LIVELY BRUNETTE.
who formerly moved in the highest church
and social circles, and possessed fair
fame unsmirched by scandal.
In April 1885, as she testified at the late
trial, she became acquainted with Arthur
F. Hoops coachman in the employ of q
neighbOring family. He is well educs-
ted and notably good looking man Of 35
years. Prior to Mr.. Griffin's death Hoops
was frequent caller at the house on one
pretext or another, and the cordality be-
tween Mrs. Griffin and the coachman be-
came a subject of remark. After the hus-
bands death, Hoops having in the mean
time quit his place as coachman, was en-
gagged pretty regularly
IN THE FAIR WIDOWS
employ as gardener and oyerseer Of her
landed property and the relations Of the
two became matter of wide notOriety. 1t
was at this stage of affairs and in March
last, while Hoops and his wife, who is n
pretty, mild-manDered young woman,
were boarding at a Mrs Rollins, that the
alleged attempt by the husband to poison
his wife occurred. Somebody, evidently
with deadly intent mixed cyanide Of
potassium with the salt in the dish placed
by the side of Mrs. Hoops plate
at the breakfast table. The authorities
thought they saw q motive for crime in n
desire on Hoops part to nd himself Of his
wife that he might marry the widow Grif-
fin, and he WAS arrested, indicted and
brought to trial At trial the widow was
an interesting and self-pOssessed and posi-
tive witness for the defence in
REPUDIATING ANY UNLAWFUL INTIMACY
with the accused man.. She admitted on
cross-eTaminatiOn, however, that she gave
hail for his appearance for trial because
she thought he was innocent" and that
she had transferred certain real estate to
his leading counsel, but she denied that
the transfer was in payment of counsel
fees. The jury on the first ballot stood 8
to for acquittal, and afteward united in
verdict of not guilty. The verdict was
not satisfactory to many minds in the COM
munity, and when Hoops went back di-
rect from the prisoners dock into the EN-
ploy Of Mr.. Griffin
SUSPICION AND SCANDAL
were excited to redoubled intensity. The
Coroner's inquest now in progress is the
outcome Of the state of public feeling. The
Coroner has as yet ordered no arrests, but
it is understood that if the chemist analy-
sis develop the fact that JnO. w. Griffin
was killed by poison, one or more persons
will be called to answer at the bar of jus.
tice for the crime. The theory is that Mrs.